Earlier text: FALLEN ANGELSTHE following is from an article by James R. Day, LL.D., chancellor of Syracuse University, printed in the Christian Advocate of December 26. It relates the story of an esteemed teacher of music in the university who fell ill, went to Boston for "Christian Science" treatment, returned and took "absent treatment," growing worse all the time, from a malady which ordinarily readily yields to rational treatment. Under the strongest solicitation from Dr. Day and others, the lady finally yielded and permitted a physician to examine her. But she was then past help. After telling his story, Dr. Day thus moralizes:— What more dreadful scourge has come upon the Christian Church in modern times? It works its delusion and does its fatal mischief by incorporating an element of true faith. But it is the faith without works, which is dead and causes death. Its logical conclusions do away with sin, the atonement, and law and forgiveness. It destroys soul and body if they depend upon it. Why men who accept the doctrine of Christian Science, with its view of matter, and cause immediate and mediate, do not cease to eat to sustain the body, and why they change from summer to winter raiment, and do everything else of business and labor as others do to sustain life, one can not imagine. They are condemned out of their own practises. The pseudo Christian Scientist has no monopoly of faith, of supreme faith, or faith applied to healing the sick. We teach rest of faith. One may believe for himself in sickness and trouble all he will, and God will help his unbelief. He need not run off to Christian Science for the privilege. But he will discriminate between faith and fanaticism and between belief and presumption. Ignorance confuses the laws of nature and of faith, and deceives the elect with great swelling words of "science, falsely so called." We charge the death of Unni Lund upon Christian Science. The Scientists will deny it. They will deny that she was one of them, that she took their treatment, or they will say that she was cured, but died as the result of taking a physician at the last moment. The fact that there were unmistakable physical evidences that she was beyond all hope at that moment will, of course, not count with them. If she had recovered, they would claim her as a signal and wonderful vindication of divine cure without interposition of doctor or medicine. Therefore no convincing arguments can be carried on with them. But our people should not be deceived. All that Christian Science has that weary souls long for or need is in the faith and teaching of evangelical Christianity, without the vagaries that confuse the mind, hallucinate the faith, or destroy the body. All that there is in Christian Science that can be commended, all that calms the hysterical temperament that appears to be organic cure, all that helps to any mastery of the mind over the physical conditions, all that removes or prevents hypochondria or delusions with regard to bodily ailments, has been in the world in "the faith of our fathers" since the days when Christ came until this present. It is not new and peculiar to Christian Science. And this whole and unperverted faith has been in perfect harmony with natural law and consistent with physical means for man's sustenance, and the remedy of his bodily ills according to a manifestly divine plan. A DREADED COMBINATION.
By S.
While the foreign minister of France is urging Italy to come to an understanding with France in regard to some definite action over the Balkan question, Germany (who wishes the Balkan question to remain undisturbed for the present) warns Italy that, should there be a clerical and royalist reaction in France, it would be followed immediately by an agitation for the restoration of the temporal power of the papacy. Italy knows what that means. The restoration of the pope’s temporal power is the nightmare of Italy’s rulers. The dread of France is a royalist reaction, an attempt to overthrow the present government. The royalists are in favor with the clericals; the clericals hate the present French Government, because of laws recently passed and enforced affecting Catholic societies. The Catholic societies are opposed to the present Italian Government, because it will not restore the temporal power of the pope. When a favorable opportunity comes, this combination would be glad to take advantage of it, and put a royal ruler on the throne of France, and give the throne of Italy to the “prisoner of the Vatican.” International complications over the Balkan question would give just such an opportunity; and tho Germany may not be wholly disinterested in pointing out the situation, it is, nevertheless, certain that the danger pointed out is a real danger. That the temporal power of the pope will one day be restored is doubtless true. The “deadly wound,” which was the loss of spiritual domination, must be “healed,” according to the Word. The restoration of temporal power will be a necessary step to that end. Just how it will be done, may not be known. Such a combination as that here pointed out may bring it about. It may come about in some other way; but whatever the process by which it will materialize, it is perfectly evident now that the great powers of earth no longer consider it an impossibility. Events are shaping toward that end, and the possibility of their consummation is seen and dreaded even by the conservative men of the world. But the Christian looks beyond this to a consummation that approaches equally fast, and is fraught with the realization of the most glorious hope. S. NOT GENERALLY FOR THE POOR.
The prosperity of the few past years, entirely aside from all political situations, has not, as a general thing, been advantageous to the poor. Doubtless it has given many work, but many have been forced from their places by combinations of capital or labor, the latter a strange thing. Too, wages have not increased as rapidly as have the necessities of life. In the Old World agriculturists have suffered, with poor prospects for relief. For instance, the Countess Krockow, in the Independent of Jan. 30, 1902, thus speaks of this class in Germany:— German land proprietors are truly disconcerted. Farming pays less and less. The peasantry make their losses good by feeding themselves worse and worse. So do more of the gentry than would ever confess it. There is no possibility of selling off acres enough to help pay up arrears. The bids are too low, or purchasers are wanting altogether. In brief, something must be done to avert bankruptcy of agriculture. And that is the very condition that much more of the world than Germany is facing. They hope to better their condition by political means. But the disease upon the nations is of a moral nature, and political remedies will not effect its cure. The Gospel of Jesus Christ would, but from that they are turning away. A STRANGE DELUSION.
By E. J. B.
A FRIEND sends a clipping from the Baltimore Morning Herald which gives an account of a large Bahaist meeting held in that city about the middle of January. Col. Nathaniel Ward Fitzgerald, of Washington, D. C., twice addressed the meeting. In his first address he presented “proofs of the fulfilment of the coming of Christ, taken from Daniel;” and in the next he took up his argument where he had dropped it, and presented more references confirming the belief of the followers of the Bab that the Son of God is now on earth in the person of Abbas Efendi, a prisoner in Syria. The religion he teaches is founded on the following data:— In the year 1884, one Ali Mohammad made his appearance in Persia as an independent religious and philosophic teacher. His exposition of the teachings of Mohammed was to the orthodox Mohammedan at least most novel and startling. He claimed to teach nothing new, but simply to restore to its original purity the teachings of the “Prophet.” He called himself the “Bab” or “Gate,” a forerunner of one greater than he—a prototype of John the Baptist, as it were. Six years after his death one of his foremost disciples, Beh'u'llah, the “Blessed Perfection,” declared himself to be “him whom God should manifest,” and was so recognized by the majority of the “Babis.” For forty years he lived as the master and teacher of the “Babis,” and was an object of the deepest veneration on the part of his disciples. In 1892 he died, and according to a long-existing understanding, his mantle of authority and leadership descended upon his son, Abbas Efendi, who is to-day living in Syria, the acknowledged “master” of all “Babis.” Massa Dulah and his son, who are disciples of Abbas Efendi, sent to this country to spread his message, were to have been present to speak at the meeting, but were detained in Washington. Advertisement of the meeting had been given out, however, and members of the sect residing in distant parts of this and adjoining States had come to hear the addresses. There were over a hundred present at the meeting. It is not strange that Mohammedans should be carried away by this delusion; but it is strange that in this land of Bibles any should be found to believe, and even advocate, a doctrine so absurd. It is a sad but forcible illustration of the religious trend, showing the readiness of the human mind to accept the delusions Satan is preparing. E. J. B. The cry of “away from Rome,” and the work which goes with it, seem to be gaining impetus in Austria. The last quarterly report issued by the leaders in that movement indicates that the ratio of conversions is steadily increasing. This is also indicated by the fact that vigorous efforts are now being put forth by the Catholic clergy to check the movement. Recently the entire body of the Catholic clergy of Austria united in a warning to the Catholic laity against this movement. It is certain that Austria, where Catholicism has so long held almost undisputed sway, is being stirred as never before. If this shall result in a sincere turning to God, and a desire to know and do His will on the part of those who are coming out, the movement will do good. But if it is simply a coming out from the fold of Rome, and a coming into the fold of a Protestantism that is such only in name, having forgotten the principles of true Protestantism as they are being forgotten to-day in our own land, then the movement is accomplishing but little. “Religion in 1901.”—In an article under this caption, the New York Tribune has some striking statements. Here are a few of them:— The old saying that prosperity is bad for religion seems to be borne out in the year just closing. Evangelism has made an unsatisfactory showing. Various twentieth-century revival movements were started at the beginning of the year, but not one of them fulfilled expectations. Even church-members seem to be out of sympathy with the purely emotional appeals to sinners that were once so potent. The tendency toward liturgical worship and ceremonial has been developed in the non-liturgical churches. Lent and Holy Week are looming up larger than the Week of Prayer, and vested choirs have increased among the Methodists. While there have been no large benefactions to religion during the year, many millions of dollars have been given to secular objects, in some cases by church-members who declined to give anything to meet the urgent needs of their denomination. The article from which these excerpts are taken also credits Dr. Minton, moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, with saying that the country is university mad. It is true that there has been no little concern in denominational circles for their colleges and academies. Dr. Minton has been making special effort to bolster up those of the Presbyterian Church by appeals through the country. He has been reported by other authorities to have complained that the universities are overshadowing the colleges, and the high schools are crowding out the academies. In this way the religious educational institutions are losing their prestige and influence. A Lesson for America in Ireland
LORD SALISBURY, in a recent speech at the unveiling of a statue of Queen Victoria, declared that the maintenance of a permanent junction between England and Ireland was the most important duty of the government. He asked the question whether Ireland loved England better than formerly, and replied that she did not. Commenting on this, the San Francisco Chronicle says, “That is the result of 400 years of British government of a fertile island on the colonial plan, which some Americans who would call themselves statesmen desire us to copy.” It is pertinent here to remark that this feeling of hostility has been kept alive by the priests of the Roman Church. America can not expect the priests of the same church to do any differently in the Philippines. There is a lesson in it for America if she would but heed. Neither is Ireland governed on the “colonial” plan. It is now stated that various classes of employers are establishing an age limit both for hiring men and for retaining them in their service. Some railroads and large manufacturing establishments now refuse to employ a man over 35 years of age, and mechanics are discharged by these concerns at the age of 45 because they are too old for service. This is but the outgrowth of this present-day strenuous life, which puts the gathering of dollars above the worth of the human soul. The worship of money is crowding the feeling of humanity out of the hearts of men. Steamship Lines Agree on Rates
An agreement has been entered into by the British, American, and Continental steamship lines in regard to the matter of both passenger and freight rates. This is in line with the mergers of railroad companies and combination control of all things which affect the general public. Another Great Railway Combine
Another great railway combine is only awaiting the result of the legal actions taken against the Securities Company, to merge the interests of three great railways. If the merging of the Northwestern lines into the Securities Company is declared legal, the new combination will be effected. It is probable that this concern would then merge with the Securities Company, and make the combination still greater. The roads which are now contemplating a merger are the Northwestern, the Milwaukee and St. Paul, and the Rock Island. DeWet Escapes Kitchener’s Trap
LORD KITCHENER'S great plan for the capture of General DeWet, in which a large number of his troops were engaged, has resulted in failure. On February 5 the Boer general, finding that his forces were being surrounded, ordered his men to disperse and seek safety as best they could, while with a large band of cattle he and his immediate followers stampeded the British line, and escaped. In the encounter the Boers lost 283 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners, but the principal part of the command made good their escape. Court-Martial Decision Frees Military Prisoners
On February 10, in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis, Mo., a decision was handed down which will liberate about 200 military prisoners now held in various Federal penitentiaries. The decision holds that officers of the regular army are not legally competent to sit on courts-martial for the trial of officers and soldiers of other forces. The persons affected by this decision are members of the volunteer forces who have been court-martialed by officers of the regular army. Railway Earnings in the United States
The annual report of the Interstate Commerce Commission shows that during the past year there were in operation in the United States 192,193 miles of railway. The passenger earnings of these railroads amounted to $426,909,210, and the freight earnings $1,114,740,770. The total earnings amounted to $1,578,164,205. The net earnings of these roads over their expenses amounted to $555,007,924, or $35,577,000 more than the net earnings for the preceding year. The total cost of the Boer war to England in money up to the present time aggregates about one billion dollars. It is costing now about $22,500,000 per month. The estimated cost for the present year is placed by the War Secretary at $305,350,000. The British forces have lost, by death or permanent disabilities, 25,305 men. The number of men who have been wounded or disabled and afterward returned to the field is 80,536. Filipino Petition Against Friars
A DESPATCH from Manila bearing date of February 7 reads as follows: “The insular presidents will present a petition to Mgr. Sbaretti, the apostolic delegate in the Philippines, on his arrival here from Rome, praying for the expulsion of the friars and friar bishops in the interests of the church, as the Filipinos consider them unfit to serve in the house of God. A majority of the presidents have already signed the petition.” Fires Ravage Paterson and Springfield
PRACTICALLY the whole business portion of Paterson, New Jersey, was wiped out by fire on February 9. The public buildings of the city were destroyed with many of the public documents. Altho the loss will amount to about $8,000,000, the city has refused aid from other cities. On February 10 the city of Springfield, Ohio, was visited by a conflagration which destroyed property valued at $1,400,000. PUBLIC men are coming to see danger in the agitation now being carried on in Ireland by the United Irish League. There is a firmly rooted belief that nothing short of a revolution is aimed at by the members of this league, while it is known that American sympathizers are urging them on to the use of physical force against the conditions of which they complain. Foreign Professors Dismissed in Peking
ALL the foreign professors in the University of Peking have been dismissed, presumably by order of the empress-dowager. This seems entirely out of harmony with the reported declarations of the empress-dowager that the Chinese Government would now lend its aid toward the work of bringing China into harmony with the ways of the western world. Insurance Against Smallpox in London
On account of the prevalence of small-pox in London, thousands of persons are taking out insurance policies against the disease. Medical reports indicate that during May and June its prevalence will be greatest, and it is feared that the disease will greatly interfere with the coronation festivities. Treaty for the Danish Islands
The treaty recently signed by the Danish minister at Washington and Secretary Hay has been published. By the terms of the treaty the United States is to pay $5,000,000 for the islands, and those of the inhabitants who wish are to be allowed to retain their allegiance to Denmark. Wireless Messages Reach 150 Miles
THE steamship Philadelphia, which arrived at New York from London on February 9, reports having kept up communication with the coast of England by means of wireless telegraphy until she had covered 150 miles. This is said to be the record for such messages. Detroit City Savings Bank Suspends Operations
The City Savings Bank of Detroit was forced to suspend operations on February 10, owing to an overdraft by one individual amounting to nearly a million dollars. Debates on Philippine and Chinese Exclusion Bills
THE debates in Congress over the Philippine and Chinese Exclusion bills continue unabated, with the day of final passage still indefinitely in the future. Brooklyn Bridge Superstructure to Be Rebuilt
The bridge commissioner of New York has decided that the entire superstructure of the Brooklyn Bridge must be reconstructed in order to stand the strain which it must bear. The commissioner's plan calls for the rebuilding of the superstructure, and the substitution of two rows of tracks, one above the other. Tua-Tua Reported as Leprosy Treatment
REPORTS from Honolulu and Tahiti are to the effect that leprous patients have been successfully treated with a plant known as tua-tua, a plant recently introduced into the islands from Venezuela. Several cases of acknowledged cures are reported; but the Honolulu Board of Health refuses to indorse the remedy. Wireless Telegraphy at Puget Sound
The government has begun the establishment of a system of wireless telegraphy at the entrance to Puget Sound for the benefit of commerce in those waters. A tower is now being erected on Tatoosh Island, and a receiving station will be built at Crescent. European Sugar Bounty Dispute
REPORTS from Europe indicate that the threat of France and England against sugar that has been produced under a bounty is having its effect in the countries where it is so produced. It is thought that this will bring about a settlement of the vexed sugar question. Court Upholds Extra Tax on Russian Sugar
The United States Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Va., has handed down a decision upholding the imposition of an extra tax on Russian sugar because of a practical bounty paid by the Russian Government on the production of that article. Britain Rejects Intervention in South Africa
THE British Government has again announced its determination not to accept the intervention of any power with a view to bringing about peace in South Africa, and declares that the Boers themselves must open negotiations with the officers in the field. Brigands Drive Villagers from Hangchow
A VILLAGE in the province of Hangchow, China, was recently captured and its inhabitants driven out by a wandering band of vagabonds numbering about 2,000. Famines in various parts of the empire have driven many of the inhabitants to brigandage. Emperor William Opposes Spiritualism and Christian Science
EMPEROR WILLIAM is taking a very decided stand against Spiritualism and Christian Science, or “Eddyism,” as it is termed there. All persons in any way connected with these cults are to be excluded from the imperial court. Anti-Dreyfus Feeling in France
THAT the feeling in France against Dreyfus has not subsided is shown by the refusal of Baron de Rothschild to have Dreyfus for a tenant in one of his many houses, and also by the comments of the press on the incident. Protest Against Russian-Chinese Manchurian Arrangements
THE ministers of the United States, England, and Japan are continuing their protest to the Chinese court at Peking against the contemplated arrangements between Russia and China in reference to Manchuria. India Faces Severe Famine
THE viceroy of India telegraphs that the famine outlook is very serious. No rain has fallen, and the plague of rats is assisting in the destruction of the crops. The relief works are being rapidly extended. Jesuits Forbidden to Preach in Paris
THE Jesuits are now forbidden to preach in Paris. This action is the result of the measures taken by the government to suppress all religious orders that would not submit to government inspection. Indiana Veterans Protest Presidential Widows’ Pensions
THE Grand Army veterans of Indiana are making protest to Congress against large pensions being paid to widows of presidents, styling such acts gratuitous favors to a distinctive class. War of 1812 Survivor Granted Pension
The last survivor of the war of 1812 has just been granted a pension of $25 a month. Hiram Cronk is his name, 102 years his age, and he lives at Dunnbrook, Oneida Co., New York. Presbyterian Creed to Declare Infants Saved
THE Presbyterian creed is to be revised so that it can not be accused of teaching the damnation of infants. By the new clause which is to be added all infants will be declared saved. Houston Oil Company Challenges Standard Oil
THE Houston Oil Company, which was organized recently with a capital of $30,000,000, has declared its intention of entering the field of competition with the Standard Oil Company. Canadian Troops’ Dissatisfaction in South Africa
REPORTS from South Africa indicate that great dissatisfaction is felt among the Canadian troops there over the treatment received from officers in the regular British army. Chicago Gas Explosion Kills Thirteen
THIRTEEN persons were killed and a large number injured by an explosion of gas in Chicago, Ill., on February 5. The explosion wrecked two large buildings. England’s Army Supply Fraud Scandal
ENGLAND continues to be stirred over the disclosures of what appear to be fraudulent dealings in connection with the purchasing of supplies for the army. Queen Margherita to Visit the United States
It is reported that Queen Margherita, widow of King Humbert of Italy, will soon visit the United States, traveling incognito as the Countess Stupinigi. Largest Oak Tree in the World
The largest oak tree in the world is said to be one which stands in Josephine County, Oregon, whose trunk measures 30 feet in circumference at the base. Twelve Firemen Killed in St. Louis Fire
TWELVE firemen were killed while fighting a stubborn fire in St. Louis, Mo., on February 4, and as many more were more or less seriously injured. Lodging-House Fire Claims Eleven Lives
A LARGE lodging-house was destroyed by fire in St. Louis, Mo., on February 9, and 11 of its inmates lost their lives in the burning building. PRECIOUS STONES.
By Frederick Griggs
Several little ragged urchins were playing on the street of one of our large cities. It was down in the portion of the city called the slums. The children were dirty as well as ragged, and they were vicious as well as dirty. They seemed to be enjoying their play one minute, and the next would be fighting. A man came along with some flowers, and gave one to each of the children. These poor little youngsters had rarely seen even a green thing growing in all their wretched lives. The whole scene was changed when the flowers were given the children. In place of the curses were exclamations of delight. They manifested an almost insane affection for their flowers, kissing them, hugging them, acting as tho they were really living persons. “Beautiful flower,” and “sweet flower,” and similar other exclamations were heard. What made the children do this?—Simply that love for the beautiful which is implanted in every human heart. I mention this incident to show the effect upon the human mind of that which is beautiful, and to show how deeply a love for it is engrafted in our nature. This inherent love is so firmly implanted that even if we have never been brought in contact with the beautiful, we yet recognize it. God has made everything beautiful in its time—beautiful in form, beautiful in color—to meet this love of the beautiful planted in the human heart. There is an abundance of it to be found in stones. We see even in the cobble-stones, when we have studied them as to their form and color, much that is pleasing to the eye. But there are many stones that possess in a much more striking way this element of beauty. The purpose of God in making beautiful things is not simply that the senses may be delighted, but that the soul may be ennobled and made better. We all recognize the pleasure of delicious food. It satisfies our sense of taste. We derive a similar pleasant sensation from harmony of color. It satisfies our sense of sight. There is, however, great danger in our enjoying the beautiful in color and the delicious in taste—in fact, in the exercise of all our senses—from a purely selfish motive. We receive the pleasure of these sensations; but it is a selfish pleasure, whereas God designs that all the gratifying sensations shall but bring to our whole being a sense of harmony and rhythm which is in itself the foundation of health and good feeling. Music has been said to be beneficial in the curing of many kinds of disease, particularly nervous ones. This is so because the nerves are set in harmonious vibration. Harmony is life, whether harmony of sound, harmony of color, or harmony with our neighbors. Heaven is to be a very beautiful place, and the purpose of this beauty for God’s children is that their whole being may be tuned to the influence of that which is beautiful, that they may more fully express the divine love which is the life of heaven. The channel through which God’s love flows in those who inherit heaven, becomes continually broader throughout all eternity. This is the sole reason why the mansions which have been prepared for those who are to be saved, and the city in which they are to live, are so wonderfully beautiful. Notice the description of this city in the Revelation, “having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” A crystal is perfectly clear. While there are different colors of jasper, yet the prevailing color is green. The oriental jasper is a beautiful sea-green. The jasper here described is said to be perfectly transparent, that is, it is as unclouded as the brightest crystal, consequently the most precious of its kind. Among precious stones there are those of the same species which are more valuable than others. The value of precious stones depends upon their freedom from flaws and their uniform and brilliant transparency. In an article which I wrote some time ago on color in vegetation, I made the remark that green was the most restful of all colors. This has been determined by scientific experiment. The light, then, of this city, being of a green hue, is agreeable to the sight. While it must be an intense light and a splendid one, yet it is tinged with color, and becomes very restful. Notice the foundations of the walls. The first is of jasper. Here again is this beautiful color. The second sapphire. This stone is generally of a fine blue color, and is said to be next in hardness to the diamond. The third is a chalcedony. The chalcedony presents various shades of white, brown, yellow, gray, green, and blue. The most common color of this stone is that of bluish white. The emerald is the fourth foundation. It is of a bright green color without any mixture, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful of all gems. The onyx is an accidental variety of the agate kind. It is of a dark horny color in which is a plate sometimes of bluish white and sometimes red. The sardonyx is a kind of onyx. It is so called when on one or both sides of the white there happens to lie a plate of reddish color. The sardius is a precious stone of a blue-red color. The chrysolite is a gold stone. It is of a dusky green, having a shade of yellow. It is said to be a species of the topaz. The beryl, the eighth foundation, is of a bluish green color. The topaz is of a pale dead green, while the tenth foundation, the chrysoprasus, is a variety of the chrysolite, and is called by some the yellow-green and clouded topaz. It differs from the chrysolite only in that it has a bluish hue. A stone of a dead-red color with a mixture of yellow is the jacinth, the eleventh foundation; while the amethyst is a gem which is generally of a purple or violet color from the composition of strong blue and deep red. The colors which I have here named are the prevailing colors of these stones. All of these stones vary in color the same as do flowers of the same variety, but the colors I have mentioned are those which are considered to be the most probable. It certainly is true that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” It is well for us that we contemplate even the colors in the home which we expect to inherit; for if we had purchased a farm in an adjoining township, expecting to make it our home, we would enjoy thinking about it, and how much more, then, an inheritance in the land of perfection, a home in a city of such vast dimensions—three hundred seventy-five miles on each side, and an exact square—with the streets of transparent gold as clear as glass. What a beautiful city it must be as it comes from heaven to earth, and is in mid-air with these inexpressibly beautiful stones for its foundation, flooded with the light of God. And all of us have the privilege of entering it. There is indeed much more that might be said concerning precious stones; but I have chosen to speak of these because it has seemed to me that the study of these particular stones might be helpful to others, as I have found it to be to myself. If the inhabitants of the world had seen in the gems of beauty which the Lord placed in the earth when He created it, the lessons which the stones might have taught them, it would not have been necessary for Him to have hidden them as He did at the time of flood. I want to conclude this article with the suggestion that the children should be made familiar with the colors of these stones. They may be taught concerning them while enjoying their crayons and paints. Nearly all of these stones as we find them are kinds of crystals. Next week I want to talk about how crystals are formed. THE BOY WHO DESERVED A CHANCE.
By S. Jennie Smith
[S. Jennie Smith, in Christian Work.] Mr. Gibbons, a gentleman well known in Ridgeley as a member of a successful business firm there, entered the main room of its high school one morning and asked to see the principal. “Mr. Reynolds,” said he, “we have a good chance for a boy in our establishment. We want a bright boy, one who is thoroughly honest and dependable and one who is capable of advancement. Then, too, he must have no bad habits. Have you such a boy here who desires to go to work soon?” “I think we have,” returned the principal; “but we would do well to consult Miss Adams, the teacher of the first class. She naturally knows more about her boys than I do.” When Miss Adams was consulted, she quickly replied: “Yes, I have two bright boys, either of whom would be capable of filling the position you mention. The only trouble is, I hardly know which to recommend. They are equally bright and studious, both finish the course this term, and are anxious for positions, their parents being rather poor people. They are John Miller and Howard Jackson.” “Yes, I too thought of those boys,” said Mr. Reynolds, “but did not know which to give the preference.” “How about their conduct?” Mr. Gibbons inquired. “Perfect, both of them,” Miss Adams smilingly answered. “Both are pleasant boys, too—the kind one likes to deal with. In fact, I can not think of any way in which one is superior to the other.” “Suppose you have a private interview with John and Howard,” Mr. Reynolds suggested to Mr. Gibbons. “Perhaps you could detect a difference that we have not discovered.” Accordingly the boys were sent to the principal’s office, one at a time, to see Mr. Gibbons. After the interview, that gentleman surprised both Mr. Reynolds and Miss Adams by saying, “I find that John Miller is far more deserving than Howard Jackson.” “I am curious to know how you made that discovery,” the teacher said. “By questioning them in regard to what they proposed to do when they left school,” was the reply. “I find that Howard is inclined to be selfish. He is anxious to get to work, but it is merely to procure those things for himself that his parents have not been able to supply him with. He seems to be a good, honest boy, and he feels that he has come to that age when he ought to work for what he gets, and not look to his parents for it; but he has no idea that his parents have any right to look to him for help. I even mentioned that they have worked hard—I know them both, although I never met the boy before—but he looked upon that as a matter of course, and went on to tell what he meant to do for himself. He has even picked out the kind of a bicycle he intends to get as soon as he can raise money enough, and I know that his mother has gone without many a necessary article of clothing herself in order to keep him decently dressed while he is at school.” “John, on the contrary, is anxious to get to work because he realizes that his parents have been working hard for him all his life, and he wants to do what he can for them now. He speaks particularly11 of his mother. He thinks she ought to have an easier time and more comforts than she has had in the past. It seems to me that a boy who appreciates what his mother has done for him is the right sort. He is the kind we want anyhow; for we mean to be as helpful as possible to our boys, and we like to have them appreciate our efforts in their behalf.” PRESS ON.
By Clarence Leland Miller
[Clarence Leland Miller, in the Christian Advocate.] THINKS'T thou the babbling throng can change
The issue of a single day?
Can add one cubit to the way
That leads us on through regions strange? The eye of God is over all;
And as He led His little band
From Egypt to the promised land,
So now He leads, whate'er befall. Ofttimes a burning stretch of sand
The weary feet must journey o'er;
Fear not—Jehovah walks before;
He knows how much the flesh can stand. Speed on, then, heart, devoid of fear,
Despite the Red Sea's hollow roar;
The land of Canaan lies before,
Press on, O heart, and persevere.